Pitino: St. John’s must defend smartly in order to succeed in Big East

Joel Soriano (11) and St. John’s have proven themselves offensively, but progress on defensive end is essential to Big East success as Johnnies start conference play Wednesday. (Photo by Vincent Dusovic/St. John’s Athletics)

Almost through the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 7-3 record that some may consider to be underachieving, St. John’s now steps up in class Wednesday to face a Xavier team in a similar predicament to the Red Storm.

At 6-5, with upset losses to Oakland and Delaware already on their ledger, the Musketeers are hoping to silence doubters much the same way St. John’s is seeking to quell the naysayers as Rick Pitino's first season in Queens has been rife with adversity and learning the paramount importance of defense in the Hall of Famer’s schematics.

“I think we’ve spent a lot of time (on it),” Pitino said following St. John’s win over Fordham Saturday, a 75-53 victory where the defensive effort was more in line with what he hopes to see moving forward. “I told the guys if we’re going to rely on our offense, we’re gonna finish dead last in the Big East. We have got to do something about our defense. We’re all capable of doing it. We just foul too much.”

“We've been fouling too much, and not good fouls. If we don’t take care of the basketball and play much better defense the next game without fouling, Xavier will beat us. But we’ve taken baby steps, and that’s what I want to see.”

Pitino places a premium on movement without the basketball in both ends of his system, a skill that prompted the veteran tactician to start Sean Conway this past Saturday in place of fellow fifth-year senior Jordan Dingle. But when asked if the change in opening lineups would be expected moving forward, the coach merely insisted his beginning five was his best quintet leading up to each contest.

“I base who starts just on practice,” Pitino intimated. “I keep telling the guys, starting means very little to me. I can’t look at your resumes from the past and say this is who should start, because that’s silly. I don’t know these guys and their past, and I’m not gonna base what somebody does at Penn, what somebody does at Harvard, with what they’re gonna do at St. John’s. Same with the Iona guys.”

In his first season at the helm at Iona three years ago, Pitino elaborated on the struggle of implementing a new style of play in year one, concerns that were eventually alleviated when the Gaels shook off four COVID pauses to win the MAAC championship in 2021. With a full offseason to further impart his wisdom, the progress may not be at the level he desires, but still, Pitino continues to preach patience while diagnosing his team’s issues.

“I think it just takes time more than anything else,” he said of learning the nuances of his style. “We recruited offensive basketball players who are not known for defense. When you have 50 days to recruit, you gotta take offense. We don’t have shot blocking from the power forward or small forward spot, so we’re a small basketball team. We’re a physically weak basketball team at a lot of positions. That’s where I really like Conway, because he’s not afraid to get on the floor, he’s not afraid to be physical.”

“I think we’ll match up against everyone. We’re a little small at the power forward spot. I think Chris (Ledlum) has a lot of room to grow with his quickness and getting around people, but he’s a tough kid. He’ll make up for his lack of size. I think we’ll give everything we can in the Big East.”

Xavier comes into Carnesecca Arena fractured, with both Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter both having missed the entirety of the season to this point. The dearth of size down low has forced 6-foot-10 senior Abou Ousmane to take on a larger role, but the retooled look of the visitors has not altered the game plan for the Johnnies in their conference opener.

“We’ve just gotta finish out possessions,” said Joel Soriano. “The Big East is a very physical conference with any team that plays in it, so we know we have to step up defensively and finish out possessions if we want to get our fast break started.”

Soriano, the Red Storm’s star center, cited the need to ramp up the transition game, but Pitino countered by wanting to see improvement in the open floor while also acknowledging the advantage the Musketeers have at the reins with head coach Sean Miller, which offsets any depth issues.

“I want to get better (in the) halfcourt,” Pitino said. “The press is fine. It’s sort of a little crazy that the five man could beat our press the last few games, but that’s not going to happen very often.”

“I haven’t looked at Xavier yet, but all I know is (Miller’s) one of the best coaches in the nation, bar none. He’s a great coach, Sean Miller. His dad was a terrific coach, his brother’s terrific. We’re gonna have to play great to beat them, but Carnesecca’s a tough place to play, as I’m finding out.”